Chapter 18

• Jake***
• I close my eyes, knowing this moment is inevitable. Belle’s voice, filled with so much pain and uncertainty, is a constant reminder of everything I’ve kept hidden. But if I don’t tell her now, I risk losing her. If I keep this secret, if I keep hiding, she’ll never trust me again.
• “Alright,” I say, my voice hoarse, “I’ll tell you everything. But you need to hear me out, Belle. You need to understand that this wasn’t easy for me either.”